And yet the stories keep popping up, in publications as diverse as the liberal The New York Times, the conservative weekly National Review and the political junkies’ bible, RealClearPolitics.com, speculating about a possible Perry candidacy for president of in 2012.

As usual, Texas is turning out to be a political ATM for both parties. Already, dozens of candidates for the U.S. Senate have made fund-raising pilgrimages to the Lone Star State.

Three incumbents stand out among the 59 candidates from 42 states who already have received campaign contributions from Texas: California Democrat Dianne Feinstein, who has brought $509,650 back to the Golden State, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., $172,000, and Wyoming Republican John Barrasso, $107,800.

Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul accused Fox News of distorting his comments about the U.S. military raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

Appearing on Fox News Sunday, the Lake Jackson congressman rebuked host Chris Wallace when the Fox personality claimed that Paul had told an Iowa radio station earlier in the week that it was “wrong” for the U.S. to kill the al Qaeda leader.

Is Austin a sanctuary city? Can anyone make sense of the Texas Legislature’s redistricting efforts? Is President Obama playing games with immigration reform and Latino voters? Should Uncle Sam take Donald Trump seriously?

These and other questions are tackled by our panel of award-winning political cartoonists this week in “Political Cartoons of the Week.”

Remember the name Alejandra Salinas. One day she may be your representative, your senator or your governor. A University of Texas junior majoring in management, the 20-year-old Laredo native is president of College Democrats of America. Wednesday, she managed to win a coveted prize: She was selected to nominate Florida congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz to be chair of the Democratic National Committee.
[Read More]

Texas on the Potomac regularly offers you insight from Hearst Newspapers columnists. Today, we present a commentary by Llewellyn King, one of Washington’s most respected analysts and host of the syndicated “White House Chronicle” television show.
[Read More]

Rick Perry says he’s not — NOT — running for president in 2012. And we believe him. But if anyone close to the Texas governor wants to get him to change his mind, it would be a very bad idea. AP photo Gov. Rick Perry A new Rasmussen Reports national poll places Perry fourth in […]
[Read More]

TEXMESSAGE Tuesday, April 12 Good morning, TexMessagers! On this date in 1981, the space shuttle Columbia was launched into space for the first time. ★ ★ ★ TEXclusive Here are a couple of presidential jokes from our exclusive session with Hearst Magazines editors and publishers in the White House’s State Dining Room: “You guys can […]
[Read More]

Texas on the Potomac is pleased to share some of the best columns from the top columnists of Hearst Newspapers. Here is a commentary by Casey Seiler of the Albany Times Union. • • • “Over the years I’ve participated in many battles and have really almost come out very, very victorious every single time.” […]
[Read More]

AP photo Donald Trump speaks to the 2011 Conservative Political Action Conference. The most entertaining battle of the 2012 Republican presidential primary season is underway: Donald Trump vs. Ron Paul. The Donald &#151 a billionaire New York real estate developer and reality TV star &#151 started the feud when he told the Conservative Political Action […]
[Read More]